CHCO-TV NewsBreak26 with Vicki Hogarth and Nathalie Sturgeon: February 4, 2025

New Brunswick has paused its response to U.S. tariffs after President Donald Trump agreed to delay them for 30 days. While Trump calls it a diplomatic win, much of Canada’s commitments, aside from the creation of a “fentanyl czar,” were already in place back in December. Canada's Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc has also questioned Trump’s claims over drug enforcement, pointing out that less than 1% of U.S. fentanyl comes from Canada.

Vicki Hogarth and Nathalie Sturgeon – Local Jouranlism Initiative

Premier Susan Holt had planned to retaliate by removing U.S. alcohol from NB Liquor stores and freezing new contracts with U.S. companies, which she announced at a press conference on Monday.

"Our team will use all the tools at their disposal to defend and to support the people of New Brunswick and to help to finish this tariff," said Holt. "New Brunswick sells around 40 million of alcohol-based American products in our stores. I've also directed the public service to complete a number of actions, including immediately reviewing the government's procurement and to stop signing deals with United States companies except for critical services that cannot immediately be replaced. I've asked Opportunities New Brunswick and the Department of Post-Secondary Education Training and Labour, to finalize, in line with federal supports, our programs to support workers and entrepreneurs."

But after the tariff delay announcement, Holt scaled back, allowing existing U.S. products at NB Liquor to stay on shelves while halting new purchases.

Despite the temporary relief, Holt said New Brunswick is ready to act if tariffs are imposed. In the press conference, she also said growing tensions between Canada and the U.S. have renewed focus on the need for a year-round ferry to Campobello Island. Islander residents currently rely on a bridge to Lubec, Maine as their permanent link to the mainland.

"The question of a year-round ferry has never come off the table, to my knowledge," said Holt. "It's something that's still being discussed, being evaluated for the different options of what that looks like, whether it's from here to there. You've probably seen all the different proposals the same way I have of the different suggestions that the community has made and others have made about the best way to service Campobello so that they have a clear and permanent connection to Canada that isn't through the U.S. Those have been ongoing as long as I've been around. And I think maybe this tariff conversation adds a little oomph to that conversation, but it's never gone away."

As the next tariff deadline nears, uncertainty remains over whether tensions will rise or quell.

Eastern Charlotte Considers Replacing RCMP

What would policing look like in Eastern Charlotte without the RCMP? Well, that's something council here is starting to think about.

"Council is very concerned about that," said Eastern Charlotte Mayor John Craig. "It's a very large amount. Our options are very limited what we can do."

Eastern Charlotte spends $2. 2 million on policing the single largest line item in its budget. But it isn't the only community questioning the use of the RCMP. Fundy Shores in Charlotte and Saint John County has been exploring its options since 2023.

In a recent post to social media, Mayor Denny Cogswell said they have had many meetings to date, including with RCMP frontline officers and top brass, but also the former Minister of Public Safety. He's met with Saint John Police and the Kennebecasis Police as well, but nothing formal has come out of those meetings. Other options were also explored in Carleton North and Hartland, but proposals for a municipal force were rejected by then Public Safety Minister Kris Austin. But Craig says the council is looking at a joint forest with Fundy Shores. Although Cogswell says on social media, no formal things have happened yet

"We're probably not happy with what we're paying. Are we getting what we're paying for?" asked Mayor Craig. 

The New Brunswick RCMP says it's committed to providing the best possible service to the communities it serves while remaining fully responsible to its budget allocation. 51 new officers have been assigned to New Brunswick through funding provided by the previous progressive conservative government. One of those officers is expected to be assigned here to the Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission which encompasses Charlotte County. The New Brunswick RCMP says it's committed to working with its partners to keep New Brunswickers safe. 

St. Andrews Fire Department Gets 100-ft Ladder Truck

The St. Andrews Fire Department is undergoing three days of training to learn to work with their new ladder truck, which arrived Monday night after being built for the community in Wisconsin.

"This new truck has 100-foot ladder on the top, so it means we can reach very tall buildings in town," said Fire Chief Kevin Theriault. "As more and more buildings are being built, the higher they're going and it's getting harder to reach."

The St. Andrews Fire Department received approximately 140 calls per year. 12 to 20 of those are working fires. They also help neighbouring communities fight fires and respond to emergencies when additional resources are required.